Page 73 of The Dark Obsession

“She said she was asleep, that she didn’t hear a thing.” Adriel descends the stairs.

“Mhmm.” Rafael nods with a blank expression.

I don’t ask any more questions but can tell something is hugely off.

His arm hesitantly loosens across my shoulder. He glances at me several times before deciding on what to do. “Adriel, will you wait here with Rosa? I just want to mention something to Lucy,” Rafael says as we reach the bottom of the stairs.

I scowl at Rafael when he turns his back on me and strides up the hallway.

Adriel notices my cheek where the nail marks stand out against my pale complexion. “Why would he lick your blood?”

“Why would he threaten to gut me?”

Adriel narrows his gaze at me. “You mustn’t make contact with him again, Rosalie.”

A door slams down the hallway and echoes into the vestibule. Rafael stomps past us and into the front room.

Adriel’s eyebrow raises, and he turns to follow him into the front room.

“Raf.” I stand behind him and put a hand on his shoulder.

He flinches. “Rose,”

“What happened?” I ask, examining Rafael’s rapidly reddening cheek.

He chuckles darkly. “I simply told Lucy that if she’s going to lie, she needs to leave.”

“Lie about what?” Adriel appears at my side.

“About being asleep. Impossible she’s asleep this early. She’s got a great left hook though, I’ll give her that.” Rafael laughs, brushing off the conversation. “Let’s eat.”

I notice Rafael’s gaze shoots to Adriel’s, and that second of eye contact seems to be a secret conversation. Adriel’s face stiffens, then seconds later returns to a relaxed state. I can’t focus on that now; my cheeks burn worse than ever as I take a deep breath, ready to shout. I stare at him, blood pounding in my ears. “She hurt you?”

“Well, it didn’t hurt.”

I grab a slice of pizza and chase after Rafael. “That’s not the point.”

He sits on the end of the sofa. “The point is, she’s got to go.”

“Rafael,” Adriel starts.

“No, she’s no good here,” Rafael says with a mouth full of pizza.

“She can’t just slap her boss,” I say loudly.

Rafael shrugs. “I’ve been slapped many times before.”

I feel unreasonably angry whilst staring at Rafael’s face. My hands shake with misdirected rage. “Stop. Being. So. Nice!”

Rafael lifts my hand which holds the pizza and moves it to my lips.

I see Adriel watching from the corner of my eye.

“Eat,” Rafael says, standing, and grabs two more slices of pizza.

I eat another slice, my stomach churning. Every few moments, my heart contracts, leaving me breathless.

Adriel doesn’t sit; he stands, facing Rafael, then turns towards the door. “I’m going to the kitchen to get some work done.” He leaves with two slices of pizza, not looking back.

---